ISRO's BlueBird-6 Launch: India Boosts Global Direct-to-Device Broadband

• ISRO will launch AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird-6 satellite, rescheduled to December 21, 2025, using its LVM3 rocket.
• BlueBird-6 aims to deliver direct-to-device mobile broadband globally, allowing standard 4G/5G handsets to connect directly from space.
• India's role highlights ISRO's reliability and expands NewSpace India Limited's commercial footprint in the global heavy-lift launch market.
• The mission signifies a key India-US technology partnership, fostering commercial space industrialization and diversifying global supply chains.
• This launch tests India's capability in next-gen broadband constellations and validates the LVM3's heavy-lift credentials for future commercial bids.

Why It Matters: India's launch of BlueBird-6 revolutionizes global broadband access and space commerce.